Police have already attached cameras to helicopters and inside tents to monitor the antics of Glastonbury festival-goers: this year they are trying horse-cams. Horses with surveillance cameras attached to their harnesses will gather evidence of anti-social behaviour or crime. If successful, the method will be used at other large-scale public events. 'We are always looking for new technology,' said Dan Mountain, of Avon and Somerset police.

For the first time in years, there are still tickets left. Successive years of bad weather and the credit crunch have been blamed for the slow ticket sales. Nevertheless, more than 170,000 people are expected to turn up next weekend to watch the likes of Leonard Cohen, the Verve, Massive Attack and Jay-Z.